A PHASE OF THE SOUTHCOTTIAN DELUSION.

One of the most remarkable cases on record of combined knavery, credulity, and superstition, is the belief which so extensively prevailed about fifty years ago in the mission and doctrines of Joanna Southcott, and of which, strange to say, some traces remain even to the present day. Is it not astonishing that so recently as the year 1814, August 3rd, the following paragraph—which we believe gives a correct statement of the facts—should have appeared in the Courier newspaper? "Joanna Southcott has lately given out that she expects in a few weeks to become the mother of the true Messiah. She is nearly seventy years of age. A cradle of most expensive and magnificent materials has been bespoken by a lady of fortune for the accouchement, and has been for some days exhibited at the warehouse of an eminent cabinet maker in Aldersgate-street. Hundreds of genteel persons of both sexes have been to see this cradle, in which her followers believe the true Messiah is to be rocked. The following has been given us as a correct description: 'A child's crib, three feet six inches, by two feet, of satin wood, with brass trellis, side and foot board; turned feet, carved and gilt, on castors; a swing cot, inside caned, to swing on centre; at each end gilt mouldings, top and bottom for gold letters; a canopy cover, with blue silk; carved and gilt under it, a gold ball, and dove, and olive branch; green stars at each corner, gilt; blue silk furniture; an embroidered celestial crown, with Hebrew characters, gold letters; a lambs'-wool mattress, with white fustian down bed, down pillow, and two superfine blankets.'"

HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES OF KING EDWARD THE FIRST.

Edward the First kept three Christmasses at Rhuddlan castle, in Flintshire; and it is a fact not generally known, that his queen Eleanor, exclusively of the young prince Edward, born at Caernarvon, was delivered of a princess there in 1283. This shows that his entire household must have been transferred into Wales, at the time his policy was directed to complete the annexation of the principality of Wales to that of England. In an ancient record in the tower of London, dated 1281-2, and translated by Samuel Lysons, Esq., is a curious roll of Edward's expenses when at Rhuddlan. It consists of four sheets, containing the particulars, under proper heads, of the sums of money paid for the maintenance of his household. The sum of the expenses in this roll is £1,395 10s., which sum, with the expenses of the other roll of the queen's household is £2,220 2s. 10-1/2d. The roll is very curious, but too long to be inserted here. We append the following as a specimen of the various items it contains:—

Paid on the day of the queen's churching in oblations to mass£030
The queen's gift to divers minstrels attending her churching1000
The queen's gift to a female spy010
A certain female spy, to purchase her a house as a spy100
For the brethren at the hospital at Rhuddlan011
For a certain player as a gift080
For the celebration of mass for the soul of William de Bajor0110
For the messenger carrying letters to the king at London, to be sent to the court of Rome, for his expenses010
Paid sundry bailiffs at the castle0410
For the carriage of 80 casks of wine from the water to the castle0220
For a cart bringing lances and cross bows from Ruthlan to Hope014
For the carriage of £3,000 from the king's wardrobe to the queen's wardrobe0105
For 600 turves, to place about the queen's stew pond in the castle010
Carriage of figs and raisins to Aberconway001
Paid wages for 1,060 archers at twopence, with 53 captains at fourpence, with 10 constables of cavalry at 12d. a day6886
Paid the same for 1,040 archers, &c. &c.6740

GARRICK'S CUP.

This celebrated Shakspearean relic was presented to David Garrick, by the Mayor and Corporation of Stratford-upon-Avon, in September, 1769, at the Jubilee which he instituted in honour of his favourite Bard. It measures about 11 inches in height. The tree from which it is carved was planted by Shakspeare's own hand, in the year 1609, and after having stood 147 years, was, in an evil hour, and when at its full growth and remarkably large, cut down, and cleft to pieces for fire-wood, by order of the Rev. Francis Gastrell, to whom it had become an object of dislike, from its subjecting him to the frequent importunities of travellers. Fortunately, the greater part of it fell into the possession of Mr. Thomas Sharp, a watchmaker of Stratford, who, "out of sincere veneration" for the memory of its immortal planter, and well knowing the value the world set upon it, converted the fragments to uses widely differing from that to which they had been so sacrilegiously condemned. Garrick held this cup in his hand at the Jubilee, while he sung the beautiful and well-known air, which he had composed for the occasion, beginning